In a conference chock full of outstanding teams, Nebraska has done little to
stand out, going 2-6 in Big Ten play. Both of those victories have come in the
Cornhuskers' last two games however, as they beat Penn State on Jan. 19
(68-64) and dismissed Northwestern on Saturday afternoon (64-49) to improve to
11-10 overall.

Minnesota began the season as one of the nation's most impressive teams, using
an 11-game winning streak to catapult to 15-1, but since then things have gone
south in a hurry. The treacherous road in the Big Ten has gotten the best of
the Gophers, who have lost four straight games, culminating in a heartbreaking
last-second defeat at Wisconsin on Saturday, 45-44, which resulted in a slip
from No. 12 to No. 23 in the polls.

Minnesota holds a 48-13 advantage in the all-time series over Nebraska,
including a season sweep in 2011-12.

The Cornhuskers put together one of their best all-around efforts of the
season in their latest 15-point win, out-shooting Northwestern from the field
(45.1 percent to 32.1 percent) and winning the rebounding battle by a
convincing 43-34 margin. Dylan Talley was the catalyst in the triumph, scoring
20 points on 8-of-15 from the field while also corralling eight rebounds.
Brandon Ubel logged his fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and
12 rebounds, while Ray Gallegos added 11 points.

Nebraska has been a solid defensive squad all season long, allowing opponents
to score just 61.2 ppg, but it has not taken advantage on offense, scoring a
league-low 58.5 ppg. Talley is the team's leading scorer with 13.4 ppg, but
he's been a detriment with his poor field goal percentage (.352). Gallegos
(12.7 ppg) has also been sub par from the field (.387), while Ubel brings
stability to the frontcourt with 12.1 ppg and 7.0 rpg.

Minnesota led a defensive struggle against Wisconsin on the road by two with
under four minutes to play, but the Badgers came back to take a 45-43 lead
with four seconds left. The Gophers had a chance to tie the game when Rodney
Williams stepped to the foul line with one second on the clock, but after
making the first free throw, he missed the game-tying attempt. They shot just
34.8 percent from the field in the loss, with Andre Hollins (20 points) and
Trevor Mbakwe (eight points, 10 rebounds) the only two players who put
together performances worth writing home about.

Mbakwe (9.8 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 1.8 bpg) has been one of the most physical forwards
in the Big Ten, but he's listed as questionable for this matchup with a
bruised wrist. In the event of his absence, the team will have to rely more
heavily on Williams (11.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.5 bpg) in the frontcourt. Minnesota,
which scores 73.2 ppg, while allowing just 61.3 ppg, is usually guard-heavy
with its production, as Andre Hollins (14.2 ppg, 3.5 apg), Austin Hollins
(10.8 ppg, 2.0 spg), and Joe Coleman (10.1 ppg) are all strong backcourt
options.